It was his routine to visit holy shrine of Imam Ali (Peace be upon him) for twice and recite Ziarat Jame, a supplication which hails monotheism and describes the infallible successors as embodiment of divine mercies and qualities.
This supplication and other prayers sometime took more than an hour.
The late founder of the Islamic Republic used to visit the holy shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) twice a day while in exile in the holy city of Najaf.
Relatives and people within close circle of Imam Khomeini recall that he used to say prayers and recite supplications at the holy site every day. This is while the other religious authorities or spiritual figures just visited the holy mausoleum once or twice in a week.
Once he was asked the reason for his too much devotion towards Imam Ali (PBUH), at this he replied that “it would be a great loss if someone doesn’t benefit while sitting along occasion of knowledge.”
Imam Khomeini spent nearly 15 year in exile, mostly in Najaf, before the victory of Islamic Revolution in 1979. Imam also spent some times in Turkey and France during the exile period.
Imam Khomeini, who established the Islamic Republic system in Iran, changed the balanced of power put Iran on the track of progress and changed the balance of power in the interest of oppressed nations.